“Mine,” Sud says, taking out his cell phone.
It’s over. I should be calming down, but instead I feel even more keyed up that I was when we got there.
“That went okay, don’t you think?” Sud asks me as we head to the elevators.
“Yeah,” I say, hoping my voice sounds normal. It must not, because after we step onto the elevator, Sud touches my arm.
“Are you okay?”
I nod. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Noi. Look at me.”
Reluctantly, I lift my eyes to meet his worried gaze.
“I didn’t stop to think that might have been the first time you’ve ever kissed anyone,” Sud says, setting my face aflame with embarrassment.
Directing my attention to the lit numbers above the door, I say, “Of course it wasn’t the first time. I’ve kissed…—people.”
“How come you’ve never told me about it?”
“You don’t talk about the people you kiss,” I point out with a shrug. Normally, I can discuss anything with Sud. But I’ve never asked him details about his girlfriends, and he’s never offered the information. He just assumed I didn’t have any experience.
Well, you don’t,I remind myself.
The elevator doors open, and I hurry out. “I think the audition went well,” I say, wanting to get off the subject. “They didn’t have to stop us and change anything, right? That’s good.”
Sud begins dissecting everything, thankfully not dwelling on the kiss.
I, for one, want to forget it entirely.
Chapter Twelve: Sud
For the next two days after the audition, I’m on cloud nine. I have a good feeling about the audition. It went much easier than I anticipated. I’m so proud of Noi. He did so well, and I know he was uncomfortable. When Koman questions me later about the audition, I only have positive things to say. But the third day comes and goes, and then the fourth, and I start to question myself. Did we really do that well? Maybe we looked stiff. Maybe the kiss looked like two best friends kissing while trying too hard to look like lovers. Khun Intapong didn’t say how long it would take for them to make a decision, and she promised she’d contact us whether we did or did not get the parts.
After a week, I’ve convinced myself we didn’t get them and she forgot her promise. I stop fantasizing about playing the secondary character in a drama, telling myself there will be other chances. Noi doesn’t mention it, for which I’m thankful because I don’t want him to see how disappointed I am. I know him—he’ll blame himself.
We’re sitting in the canteen eating between classes, the buzz of conversation around us. I’m pushing my food around on my plate, thinking about lost opportunities when Noi nudges my foot with his under the table.
“Eat,” he says, pointing to my food.
I use my fork to flick a piece of pork onto my spoon and put it into my mouth.
“P’Sud?” I turn to see a tall girl with thick dark hair and sharp features standing by the table.
“Sawasdee-khap,” I greet her.
“I’m Cora.”
Cora. I frown, trying to remember where I’ve heard that name.
“I put some lemon cookies in your backpack one time, along with a note.”
Oh, yeah.“They were good cookies. Thanks for thinking of me.”
Cora glances at Mee Noi, who is looking at her like he wishes she’d get on with whatever it is she’s going to say. I’m not sure what’s up with him because he usually doesn’t pay any attention when I talk to girls.
“Uh, I wanted to tell you that I really like you, P’Sud.” Her face blushes prettily as she looks at me with shining eyes.